AP Psychology Chapters 1-13 (Minus 12)
operant
"active behavior that operates upon the environment to generate consequences."
Described three patterns of behavior that individuals use to defend against basic anxiety.
(1) Those who move toward other people have an excessive need for approval and affection. (2) Those who move against others have an excessive need for power. (3) Those who move away from other people have an excessive need for independence and self- sufficiency.
WAIS had two advantages over the Stanford-Binet Scale
(1) it was specifically designed for adults, rather than for children, and (2) it provided scores on 11 subtests measuring different abilities. These subtest scores were grouped to provide an overall verbal score and an overall performance score.
some change must occur in the workings of the brain when a new LTM is stored.
(1) the functioning of the neurons could change (2) the structure of the neurons could change.
episodic memories
(personally experienced events) need slow-wave sleep
Trait theories fail to:
*truly explain human personality *explain how or why individual differences developed *address other important personality issues, such as the basic motives that drive
Psych for Your Life: Minimizing the Effects of Stress
- Avoid or minimize the use of stimulants - Exercise regularly - Get enough sleep - Practice a relaxation technique
Stressors that can influence the immune system
- Even commonplace negative life events can adversely affect the immune system. - Studies show that people who are experiencing high levels of stress are more susceptible to infection than people who are not under stress. - Physical health is affected by the interaction of many factors, including heredity, nutrition, health-related habits, access to medical care, and exposure to sources of infection and disease.
adaptive coping responses serve many functions
- They involve realistically evaluating the situation and determining what can be done to minimize the impact of the stressor. - They involve dealing with the emotional aspects of the situation. - They are directed toward preserving important relationships during stressful experiences
Criticisms of Piaget's theory
-Generally, scientific research has supported Piaget's most fundamental idea: that infants, young children, and older children use distinctly different cognitive abilities to construct their understanding of the world -Underestimates cognitive abilities of kids, underestimates social/cultural environment, overestimated the degree to which people achieve formal operational
Social Development
-Generally, when parent-child relationships have been good before adolescence, they continue to be relatively smooth during adolescence. -While susceptibility to peer influences peaks in early adolescence, peer relationships tend to reinforce the traits and goals that parents fostered during childhood
Transition to Parenthood
-Marital satisfaction tends to decline after the birth of the first child and rise again after children leave the home. -Multiple roles seem to provide both men and women with a greater potential for increased feelings of self-esteem, happiness, and competence
Neuroscience: Boosting the Aging Brain
-Various studies suggest that remaining mentally and physically active decreases age- related risks for cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. -Research by Kirk Erickson and colleagues (2011) tested whether aerobic exercise could improve brain health and cognitive functioning in sedentary older adults who were in good physical health. -Results of this study found that after a year of regular exercise both groups improved on measures of spatial memory and likely benefitted from social interactions. Participants in the control group showed an average decline in hippocampal volume whereas, the experimental group increased in the volume of their hippocampus by an average of 2 percent. -These findings suggest that declines in cognitive abilities and brain functions are neither inevitable nor unalterable.
percentage of life on normal functions
-about 1/3 of your body's energy is expended for the routine physical activities of daily life (walking, lifting objects, brushing teeth, digesting food) -the other 2/3 of body's energy is used for continuous body functions that are essential to life (creating body heat, heartbeat, respiration, and brain activity)
social cognitive perspective differs several ways
-it relies heavily on experimental findings -it emphasizes conscious, self-regulated behavior emphasizes that our sense of self can vary, depending on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a given situation
The newborn's senses are strongly attuned to people, helping the infant quickly learn to differentiate between the mother and other humans
-within hours of birth, newborns display a preference for their mother's voice and face over that of a stranger -vision is the least developed sense at birth
Basic Characteristics Associated with Motivation
1) Activation 2) Persistence 3) Intensity
Anal Stage:
1-3 years
humanistic perspective has been criticized on two counts:
1. Humanistic theories are hard to validate or test scientifically, because they tend to be based on philosophical assumptions or clinical observations, rather than on emnirical research.
5 ethical principles in psychology
1. Informed consent 2. Extra credit=other available 3. Deception used when- not feasible not to or when outcome could outweigh deception 4. Confidentiality 5. Informed about entirety of study
four possible patterns of acculturation
1. Integrated 2. Assimilated 3. Separation 4. Marginalized
Any psychological test goals:
1. It accurately and consistently reflects a person's characteristics on some dimension. 2. It predicts a person's future psychological functioning or behavior.
Eric Kandel has studied the neuron changes that occur when Aplysia forms a new memory for a simple classically conditioned response.
1. The function of the neuron is altered; there is an increase in the amount of the neurotransmitter produced by the neurons. 2. The structure of the snail's neurons also changes; the number of interconnecting branches between the neurons increases, as do the number of synapses, or communication points, on each branch. 3. Collectively, these changes are called long-term potentiation which refers to a long-lasting increase in synaptic strength. 4. Forming a memory seems to produce distinct functional and structural changes in specific neurons. These changes create a memory circuit. As the changes in the neurons strengthen the communication links in this circuit, the memory becomes established in LTM.
human characteristic could be considered "basic"
1. its absence breeds illness its 2. presence prevents illness 3. its restoration cures illness 4. under certain free choice situations, it is preferred over other satisfactions or needs
humanistic perspective criticized
2. Many psychologists believe that this view of human nature is too optimistic.
Phallic Stage:
3-6 years
different wavelengths correspond to our subjective experience of different colors
400 nanometers violet. 700 nanometers red. everything in middle is orange, yellow, green, blue and indigo
Latency Stage:
7 - 11 years
action potential
A brief electrical impulse by which information is transmitted along the axon of a neuron.
episodic memory
A category of long-term memory that involves the recollection of specific events, situations and experiences.
Trait
A characteristic pattern of behavior or a disposition to feel and act, as assessed by self-report inventories and peer reports. Ex: Dana possesses the trait of being outgoing and positive even in complicated situations and is considered by her peers to be a very optimistic person.
humanistic psychology.
A clinical viewpoint emphasizing human ability, growth, potential, and free will.
individualistic culture
A culture in which people believe that their primary responsibility is to themselves.
Confounding/extraneous variable
A factor other than the ones being studied that if not controlled could affect outcome
Variable
A factor that can change in an experiment
Pseudoscience
A fake or false science that makes claims based on little or no scientific evidence.
Muller-Lyer Illusion
A famous visual illusion involving the misperception of the identical length of two lines, one with arrows pointed inward, one with arrows pointed outward.
Heuristic
A general rule of thumb or shortcut that is used to reduce the number of possible solutions. (Common types are subgoals and working backwards)
Corticosteroids
A group of hormones, including cortisol, released by the adrenal glands at times of stress
Evaluating Social Cognitive Perspective
A key strength of the social cognitive perspective theory is that it is grounded in research in learning, cognitive psychology, and social psychology, rather than on clinical impressions.
Statistically significant
A mathematical indication that research results are not very likely to have occurred by chance.
tip of the tongue experience
A memory phenomenon that involves the sensation of knowing that specific information is stored in long-term memory, but being temporarily unable to retrieve it.
misinformation effect
A memory-distortion phenomenon in which a person's existing memories can be altered if the person is exposed to misleading information.
Experimental research
A method of investigation used to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships by purposely manipulating one factor thought to produce change in another factor.
semantic network model
A model that describes units of information in long-term memory as being organized in a complex network of associations.
moratorium period
A period of time in high school or college when young adults are relatively free of responsibilities and can experiment with different roles to find their identities.
Sleep paralysis
A person is unable to move upon waking in the morning and during rem sleep
Projective Test
A personality test, such as the Rorschach or TAT, that provides ambiguous stimuli designed to trigger projection of one's inner dynamics. Ex: (Refer to Image). Looking at either random inkblot patterns, or ambiguous images (Rorschach or TAT), one can complete a projective test.
Weber's Law
A principle of sensation that holds that the size of the just noticeable difference will vary depending on its relation to the strength of the original stimulus.
Trial and Error
A problem-solving strategy that involves attempting different solutions and eliminating those that do not work.
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
A projective test in which people express their inner feelings and interests through the stories they make up about ambiguous scenes. Ex: (Refer to Image). One may describe this image as depicting a conflict between one's ego and id.
Personality Inventory
A questionnaire (often with true-false or agree-disagree items) on which people respond to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors; used to assess selected personality traits. Ex: (Refer to Image). The MMPI and Empirically derived test are examples of these inventories.
Survey
A questionnaire or interview designed to investigate the opinions, behaviors, or characteristics of a particular group.
Id
A reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that, according to Freud, strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives. The id operates on the pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification. Ex: Many newborns are driven by their id, as they begin to cry when they are hungry (for the immediate satisfaction of their appetite).
Scientific method
A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.
fovea
A small area in the center of the retina, composed entirely of cones, where visual information is most sharply focused.
basilar membrane
A structure that runs the length of the cochlea in the inner ear and holds the auditory receptors, called hair cells.
immune system
A system (including the thymus and bone marrow and lymphoid tissues) that protects the body from foreign substances and pathogenic organisms by producing the immune response
Hypothesis
A tentative statement that describes the relationship between 2 or more variables
Empirically Derived Test
A test (such as the MMPI) developed by testing a pool of items and then selecting those that discriminate between groups. Ex: (Refer to Image) The MMPI, or the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is an example of this test.
recognition
A test of long-term memory that involves identifying correct information out of several possible choices.
cued recall
A test of long-term memory that involves remembering an item of information in response to a retrieval cue.
recall
A test of long-term memory that involves retrieving information without the aid of retrieval cues; also called free recall.
Terror-Management Theory
A theory of death-related anxiety; explores people's emotional behavioral responses to reminders of their impending death. Ex: (Refer to Image). When Hailey was reminded that she was getting to an age where the likelihood of death is much higher, she began to act on better moral standards, and treated people better.
ion channels
A transmembrane protein channel that allows a specific ion to diffuse across the membrane down its concentration or electrochemical gradient.
afterimage
A visual image that persists after a stimulus is removed.
myelin sheath
A white, fatty covering wrapped around the axons of some neurons that increases their communication speed.
Short-Term Signals that Regulate Eating
About 30 minutes before eating, you have a slight increase in blood levels of insulin and a slight decrease in blood levels of glucose. Once the meal begins, levels of glucose return to a normal level
Adult development goals
According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of early adulthood is to form a committed intimate relationship with another person. During middle adulthood, the primary task becomes one of generatively , to contribute to future generations through your children, your career, and other meaningful activities
Oedipus Complex
According to Freud, a boy's sexual desires toward his mother and feelings of jealousy and hatred for the rival father. Ex: (Refer to Image).
Fixation
According to Freud, a lingering focus of pleasure-seeking energies at an earlier psychosexual stage, in which conflicts were unresolved. Ex: A person who was early weaned off of bottles might continue to seek oral gratification by smoking or excessive eating. Freud would consider them to be fixated in the oral stage.
Unconscious
According to Freud, a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories. According to contemporary psychologists, information processing of which we are unaware. Ex: (Refer to Image). According to Freud, one's unconscious drives slip through and can be discovered through the analyzation of dreams and the use of free association therapy.
Personality Development:
According to Freud, people progress through five psychosexual stages of development. *The foundations of adult personality are established during the first five years of life.
Psych for Your Life: Possible Selves
According to Hazel Markus and colleagues, possible selves are the aspect of the self-concept that includes images of the selves that you hope, fear, or expect to become in the future.
archetypes.
According to Jung, emotionally charged images and thought forms that have universal meaning.
Self-Actualization
According to Maslow, one of the ultimate psychological needs that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill one's potential. Ex: (Refer to Image).
Unconditional Positive Regard
According to Rogers, an attitude of total acceptance towards another person. Ex: This often times occurs in close relationships as both individuals feel that they can be spontaneous without fearing the loss of others' esteem.
Pessimistic explanatory style
Accounting for negative events or situations with internal, stable, and global explanations
Genital Stage:
Adolescence
Sleep Cycle.
After stage 4 sleeper cycles through 3/2 and goes into first REM phase; first 90 minutes of the nights sleep
Self-Concept
All our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question, "who am I?" Ex: (Refer to Image) Self concept usually develops at the age of 12, and is different from self-awareness which develops at the age of 15 months.
Safety Needs
All people need to feel safe: BOTH physical safety and emotional safety
Richard F. Thompson
American psychologist and neuroscientist, you conducted extensive research on the knurl biological foundations of learning and memory.
B. F. Skinner
American psychologist searched for the "lawful processes" that would explain "order in behavior." He believed that psychology should restrict itself to studying only topics that could be objectively measured and verified those outwardly observable behaviors and environmental events.
John B. Watson
American psychologists, founded the behavioral perspective which emphasizes the scientific study of how behavior is the result of past experience and environmental influences. (Behaviorism dominated psychology in the US for more than 50 years.)
Robert Rescorla
American psychologists; stated that classical conditioning depends on the information the conditioned stimulus provides about the unconditioned stimulus.
cultures effects on early memories
Americans typically remember individual experiences as their first memories, where Taiwanese/Chinese remember group events as their first memory
Amphetamines
Amphetamines elevate mood and suppress appetite. They include Benzedrine, Dexedrine, and methamphetamine.
moral reasoning
An important aspect of cognitive development during adolescence is a change; how an individual thinks about moral decisions
Personality
An individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting. Ex: (Refer to Image) Mark's personality is different from Lindsay's as he is more outgoing and boisterous, while she is more quiet and shy.
Jerome Kagan classified temperaments in terms of reactivity
An infant may be either a high-reactive infant or a low-reactive infant
army alpha
An intelligence test developed during World War I and used by the army for soldiers who can read.
Army Beta
An intelligence test developed during World War I and used by the army for soldiers who cannot read.
animal cognition, or comparative cognition
Animal language research reflects an active area of psychological research
Emotion in Nonhuman Animals
Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, motives, emotions, or behaviors to nonhuman animals or inanimate objects. Animals clearly demonstrate diverse emotions- fear, anger, and surprise
optic disk
Area of the retina without rods or cones, where the optic nerve exits the back of the eye.
superiority complex.
At the other extreme, people can overcompensate for their feelings of inferiority and develop a
problem-focused coping
Attempting to alleviate stress directly by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor.
Alfred Adler:
Austrian physician who broke away from Freud and focused his theory on how feelings of inferiority and striving for superiority impact personality development.
Sigmund Freud
Austrian physician whose work focused on the unconscious causes of behavior and personality formation; founded psychoanalysis.
basal metabolic rate
BMR, refers to the rate at which your body uses energy for vital body functions when you are resting/lying down
Barbiturates
Barbiturates decrease activity in the brain centers that control arousal, wakefulness, and alertness.
B.F. Skinner
Behaviorist that developed the theory of operant conditioning by training pigeons and rats
Oral Stage:
Birth to 1 year
Body temperature and metabolism
Body temperature rises and metabolism decreases before eating. As your meal is consumed, body temperature lowers and metabolism increases
REM sleep behavior disorder
Brain fails to shut down coluntary actuons and person acts out dreams
Physiology
Branch of biology that studies functions and parts of living organisms
Comparative psychology
Branch of psychology that studies the behavior of different animal species
axon terminals
Branches at the end of the axon that contain tiny pouches, or sacs, called synaptic vesicles.
Evaluating the Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality:
By emphasizing the self-regulation of behavior, the social cognitive perspective places most of the responsibility for our behavior, and for the consequences we experiences, squarely on our own shoulders.
Edward B. Titchener
Came up with structuralism- emphasis on studying the most basic components or structures of conscious experiences (first formal school of psychology) (used introspection only)
aptitude
Capacity for learning; natural ability
Collective Unconscious
Carl Jung's concept of a shared, inherited reservoir of memory traces from our species' history. Ex: (Refer to Image) One archetype which appears in the stories of many different cultures is that of the wicked fairy-tale stepmother.
semantic memory
Category of long-term memory that includes memories of general knowledge, concepts, facts, and names.
Interneurons
Central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
pheromones
Chemical signals released by an animal that communicate information and affect the behavior of other animals of the same species.
Neurotransmitters
Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another
Emotional Safety
Child psychologists and teacher have found that children need a predictable world; a child prefers consistency, fairness, and a certain amount of routine. When these elements are absent, he/she becomes anxious and insecure. Freedom within limits rather than total permissiveness is preferred.
ways to enhance your creativity
Choose the goal of creativity Reinforce creative behavior Engage in problem finding Acquire relevant knowledge Try different approaches Exert effort and expect setbacks
Circadian Rhythms
Circadian are the cyclical daily fluctuations in many different biological and psychological processes. roughly 24 hours long.
Statistics
Collection of methods for planning experiments, obtaining data, organizing, summarizing, presenting, analyzing, interpreting, and drawing conclusions based on data.
schemas
Concepts or mental frameworks that organize and interpret information.
(In Focus Box)
David Lykkens refers to certain traits as emergenic: that is, they result from unique configurations of many interacting genes. The influence of environmental factors is at least equal to the influence of genetic factors.
Single-Feature Model
Decision based on a single feature
Repression
Defense mechanism by which anxiety-provoking thoughts and feelings are forced to the unconscious.
Sublimation
Defense mechanism by which people redirect socially unacceptable impulses toward acceptable goals.
Denial
Defense mechanism by which people refuse to accept reality.
Reaction formation
Defense mechanism that involves acting in the opposite way than what you are feeling
Alzheimer's disease Stage 1
Deficits in recent memory and the inability to recall certain information from long-term memory, accompanied by efforts to cover up the memory loss.
Availability Heuristics
Determine the likelihood of an event based on how readily we remember other instances of the event
representativeness heuristic
Determine the likelihood of an event by comparing it to the prototype for the event
René Descartes
Early French philosopher that came up with interactive dualism- idea that brain and body were separate entities that interact to produce sensations, emotions and other conscious experiments
Thomas and Chess (1950s) rated young infants on a variety of characteristics, such as activity level, mood, regularity in sleeping and eating, and attention span
Easy; Difficult; Slow-to-warm-up
Ecstasy's effects
Ecstasy's effects may result from its causing the release of serotonin and its ability to block serotonin reuptake. Several studies have shown potential irreversible damage to serotonin nerve endings in the brain. Long-term effects include depression with memory and verbal reasoning.
Ecstasy:
Ecstasy: chemical MDMA; at low doses has stimulant effects; at high doses it has psychedelic effects.
The Roles of Genetics and Environment in Determining Intelligence
Environmental factors influence which genes are switched on, or activated. Individuals inherit a potential range for a trait, and environmental factors determine how close they come to realizing that genetic potential. The genetic range of intellectual potential is influenced by many genes, not by a simple gene.
William James
Established functionalism- early school of psychology that emphasized studying the purpose/ function of behavior and mental experiences (included direct observation)
elimination by aspects
Evaluate all alternative, one characteristic at a time, starting with the most important feature; eliminate failures immediately
Francis C. Sumner
First African American to receive a Ph.D in psychology, helped more African Americans in psychology field
Marcharte Floy Washburn
First American women to earn PhD, advocated for study of different animals for research, second women president of APA
Mary Whitin Calkins
First female president of APA, write introduction to psychology, earned but never reviewed PhD
cerebrospinal fluid
Fluid in the space between the meninges that acts as a shock absorber that protects the central nervous system.
Hypnosis:
Focused attention; increased responsiveness to suggestions- best canidates are creative and positive about experience
reliable signal
For learning to occur, the conditioned stimulus must be a reliable signal that predicts the presentation of the unconditioned stimulus.
Pierre Paul Broca
French surgeon and neuroanatomist who treated people with difficulty speaking but could comprehend writing- led to discover cause was damage to the lower left frontal lobe
Freud vs. Rogers on Human Nature:
Freud and Rogers saw human nature quite differently!
Freud versus Bandura on Human Aggression:
Freud viewed aggression as a universal, unconscious instinct that must be controlled by internal and external restraints. Social cognitive theorists emphasize that behaviors, even aggression, are driven by conscious goals and motives.
Neo-Freudians disagreed (1)
Freud's belief that behavior was primarily motivated by sexual urges.
Neo-Freudians disagreed (2)
Freud's contention that personality is fundamentally determined by early
Neo-Freudians disagreed (3)
Freud's generally pessimistic view of human nature and society.
Psychoanalysis
Freud's theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions. Ex: Freud would say that, in relating to his psychoanalytic theory, one's characteristic aggressive and assertive personality may be a result of a manifesting of one's own internal conflict.
predictive value
From Rescorla's studies on rats, animals assess the predictive value of stimuli. Based on other studies, classical conditioning seems to involve learning the relationship between events.
mirror neurons
Frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain's mirroring of another's action may enable imitation, language learning, and empathy.
Alzheimer's disease Stage 4
Gait and motor disturbances worsen. Patient becomes mute and bedridden. Edema develops, and patient is close to death.
alleles
Genes can come in different versions; The best-known pattern of variation is the simple dominant-recessive gene pair
karl wernicke
German neurologist who in 1874 discovered an area on the left temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex that , when damaged, produces meaningless or nonsensical speech and difficulties in verbal or written comprehension
Karen Horney:
German-born American psychoanalyst who stressed the importance of cultural and social factors and social relationship (especially parent-child) in personality development.
figure-ground relationship
Gestalt principle stating that a perception is automatically separated into the figure, which clearly stands out, from its less distinct background, the ground
Individualism
Giving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications. Ex: Guilt is often used as a punishment in individualistic nations such as the U.S. and Canada, for not fulfilling or achieving one's own goals.
Collectivism
Giving priority to the goals of one's group (often one's extended family or work group) and defining one's identity accordingly. Ex: Shame is often used as a punishment in collectivist nations such as China and Japan, for not fulfilling or achieving the country's goals that would've furthered the society as a whole.
induction
Giving specific reasoning as to why they are being punished or have to do something
personal control and stress
Having a sense of control may reduce the negative impact of the stressor and it increases positive emotions, and self-efficacy. If they are unrealistic expectations of control, they increase amount of stress you have over something
Canadian endocrinologist Hans Selye
He found that rats exposed to a variety of prolonged stressors had the same pattern of physical changes: the adrenal glands became enlarged; stomach ulcers and loss of weight occurred; and there was shrinkage of the thymus gland and lymph glands, two key components of the immune system.
Maslow work
He studied historical figures (past and present) and found that members of this self- actualized group shared some characteristics: they enjoyed life; were able to form deep, positive relationships; they respected themselves; were able to make mistakes and take risks; they were highly creative; dedicated to their jobs and ideas; and they had little self-conflict
Karl Lashley
He was an American psychologist and behaviorist well-remembered for his influential contributions to the study of learning and memory. His failure to find a single biological locus of memory in the rat's brain (or "engram", as he called it) suggested to him that memories were not localized to one part of the brain, but were widely distributed throughout the cerebral cortex.
Edward L. Thorndike experiments
He would place hungry cats in a "puzzle box" that allowed escape by some simple action. Through trial and error, the cats learned to unlatch the puzzle box door and escape
Kenneth Bancroft Clark
Helped end segregation, first African American president of APA
Learned Helplessness:
Helplessness: the phenomenon in which exposure to inescapable and uncontrollable aversive events produces passive behavior.
Elizabeth Loftus
Her research on memory construction and the misinformation effect created doubts about the accuracy of eye-witness testimony
Brain structures involved in memory
Hippocampus- necessary for encoding new explicit memory Cerebellum- learning skills and conditioned associations Amygdala- assoc. Emotion with memories, especially the negative ones. Medial temporal lobes- involved in encoding complex memories by forming links among the information stored in different areas of the brain Prefrontal cortex-memory involving the sequence of events but not the events themselves
Carl Rogers
Humanisic; self-concept and unconditional positive regard drive personality
Abraham Maslow
Humanistic perspective, Theory of motivation for emphasizes psychological growth
Cultural differences in test-taking behavior
If standardized intelligence tests reflect white, middle-class cultural knowledge and values, minority-group members might do poorly on the tests not because of lower intelligence but because of unfamiliarity with the white, middle-class culture. It is generally recognized that it is impossible to design a completely culture-free test. A test will tend to favor the people from the culture in which it was developed
Focus on Neuroscience:
In 1990s, research by Rizzolatti and colleagues discovered mirror neurons, which are neurons that fire both when an action is performed and when the action is simple perceived. Many neuroscientists and psychologists believe that mirror neurons play and important role in imitation and observational learning.
successful intelligence
In Robert Sternberg's framework, the optimal form of cognition, involving having a good balance of analytic, creative, and practical intelligence.
Self
In contemporary psychology, assumed to be the center of personality, the organizer of our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Ex: (Refer to Image). One's self can play a significant role in any situation, as it helps one to organize one's thoughts, and help one to organize these thoughts into their resulting actions.
The Neo-Freudians
In general, the neo-Freudian's disagreed with Freud on three key points.
Adult Development
In his theory of psychosocial development, Erik Erikson described two fundamental themes that dominate adulthood: love and work
Free Association
In psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing. Ex: (Refer to Image).
Repression
In psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from consciousness. Ex: This may manifest when one banishes feelings of sorrow, by not being able to remember one's loved one's funeral.
Defense Mechanisms
In psychoanalytic theory, the ego's protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality. Ex: If a husband wanted to banish unwanted feelings of wanting to be unfaithful to his wife, he may use defense mechanisms such as projection, displacement, reaction formation, sublimation, rationalization, denial, regression, or repression to do so.
critical thinking
In the 1990s, proponents of recovery therapy (trauma therapy, repressed memory therapy) claimed to have identified the root cause of many psychological problems - sexual abuse in childhood. They asserted that many adult "survivors" had completely repressed all memories of the abuse. Critics contend that many of the supposedly "recovered" memories are actually false memories produced by the suggestions of well-intentioned but misguided therapists.
Pineal gland
In the endocrine gland and regulates melotonin
ganglion cells
In the retina, the specialized neurons that connect to the bipolar cells; the bundled axons of the ganglion cells form the optic nerve.
Freudian theory several valid criticisms.
Inadequacy of evidence. Lack of testability. Sexism.
temperament
Inborn predispositions to consistently behave and react in a certain way define
Prolonged wakefulness
Increase in adenosine levels and sleepiness; NREM sleep reduces adenosine levels; caffeine blocks adenosine receptors
Chunking
Increasing the amount of information that can be held in short-term memory by grouping related items together into a single unit, or chunk.
Neurons
Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information.
explicit memory
Information or knowledge that can be consciously recollected; also called declarative memory.
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
Is a tiny cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus in the brain that controls the timing of circadian rhythms.
Caffeine
It increases mental alertness and wakefulness by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain.
Differences within groups vs. differences between groups
It is possible to estimate the degree of difference within a specific group that is due to heredity, but not the difference between groups that is due to heredity
Cocaine
It works by blocking reuptake in neurotransmitters. Cocaine produces intense euphoria, mental alertness, and self-confidence.
Loss of entrainment for circadian rhythms
Jetlag- physical and mental fatigue, depression, irritability, disrupted sleep
postconventional level
Kohlberg's highest level of moral development, in which moral actions are judged on the basis of personal codes of ethics that are general and abstract and that may not agree with societal norms
Alzheimer's disease Stage 3
Language loss becomes pronounced. Often, hostility, hallucinations, and delusions are present. Institutional care is often needed at this stage.
Additive Model
List important factors, give varying weights to each factor and add the ratings for each factor
Lying
Lying is inferred when people show arousal patterns typically associated with anxiety or fear during a polygraph interview. -It is generally agreed in the scientific community that polygraphs aren't a valid method to detect lies and that their results should not be used as evidence.
Focus on Neuroscience: The Adolescent Brain
MRI scans have revealed 2 distinct spurts of brain development - one during prenatal development and one during late childhood just prior to puberty. The last brain area to experience pruning and maturity is the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex does not reach full maturity until the mid-20s.
Self-Esteem Needs
Maslow found that people have two categories of esteem or self-respect needs: Self-esteem and Esteem from other people
Love and Belongingness Needs and Maslow
Maslow found that the absence of love stifles growth and the development of one's potential. Love involves a healthy, loving relationship and includes mutual trust and respect. In a proper relationship, there is a lack of fear, and a dropping of the defenses. Maslow states that, "the Love Needs involve both giving and receiving love...we must understand love, we must be able to teach it to others, to predict it ...or else the world is lost to hostility and suspicion."
Maslow
Maslow worked to create a description of happy and mentally healthy people, whom he called self-actualized persons or persons who have developed to their full abilities.
Culture and Coping Strategies
Members of individualistic cultures tend to emphasize personal autonomy and personal responsibility in dealing with problems; thus, they are less likely to seek social support in stressful situations than are members of collectivistic cultures. In collectivistic cultures, however, a greater emphasis is placed on controlling personal reactions to a stressful situation than on trying to control the situation itself
Alzheimer's disease Stage 2
Memory loss becomes worse, and the patient is no longer able to cover it up. Often, the person becomes more irritable and has difficulty remembering how to get home or to other places. Depression is noticeable.
Effects of early versus late maturation
Most adolescents are "on time" - maturational changes are occurring at roughly the same time for them as for others in their peer group.
Factors that Involve Obesity
Nature vs. Nurture Leptin Resistance Dieting/Weight Cycling
Neuropeptide Y
Neurotransmitter manufactured in brain (including hypothalamus); during negative energy balance times, NPY is secreted triggering eating behavior, reducing metabolism, and promoting fat storage; During positive energy balance times, NPY production decreases
Science versus Pseudoscience: Can a DVD help your baby be a genius
No- kids learn more if you talk to them
color blindness
One of several inherited forms of color deficiency or weakness in which an individual cannot distinguish between certain colors.
Aristotle
One of the first to write about sleep, dreams, the senses and memory- remained influential until modern science in 17th century
Self-Esteem
One's feelings of high or low self-worth. Ex: (Refer to Image) The individual in the image obviously has a high self-esteem.
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning deals with the learning of active, voluntary behaviors that are shaped and maintained by their consequences
Spotlight Effect
Overestimating others' noticing and evaluating our appearance, performance, and blunders (as if we presume a spotlight shines on us). Ex: (Refer to Image). When dancing at a party one may falsely believe that if one falls, others will automatically notice and judge oneself.
Methamphetamine
PET scans of former meth users show a significant reduction in the number of dopamine receptors and transporters. Memory and motor skill problems are common in former abusers
Chronic Negative Emotions and Positive Emotions
People who are habitually anxious, depressed, angry, or hostile are more likely to develop a chronic disease. Such people experience more stress than do happier people. Research has shown that positive emotions are associated with increased resistance to infection, decreased illnesses, fewer reports of illness symptoms, less pain, and longevity.
Emotion facts
People who experience very intense positive emotions will also experience very intense negative emotions. - People who are more emotionally expressive are more liked than people who are more inhibited in their expression of emotions. - Men and women do not differ in their experience of emotions, but they do differ in their expression of emotions. (Women are more expressive.)
Henry Murray and Christiana Morgan in the 1930s came up with a test to measure human motives: Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
Person being tested makes up a story about a picture and the story is coded for different motivational themes
Psychological Factors
Personal control research consistently shows that having a sense of control over a stressful situation reduces the impact of stressors and decreases feelings of anxiety and depression
Pyschoanalysis
Personality theory and form of psychotherapy that emphasizes unconscious factors in personality and behavior
Biological
Physical bases of human and animal behavior
Physical Changes in Adulthood
Physical strength typically peaks in early adulthood, (20s/30s); by middle adulthood, roughly from the 40s to mid-60s, physical strength and endurance gradually decline; and during late adulthood, from the mid-60s+, physical stamina and reaction time tend to decline further and faster
Strategies for resisting the temptation of short-term reinforcers and improving self-control:
Precommitment Self-Reinforcement Stimulus Control Focus on the Delayed Observe Good Role Models
Stimulant-induced psychosis
Prolonged amohetamines or cocaine use that results in schizophrenia like symptoms called
Psychoactive Drugs
Psychoactive are chemical substances that can alter arousal, mood, thinking, sensation, and perception. depressants, opiates, stimulants, and psychedelic drugs.
Projection
Psychoanalytic defense mechanism by which people disguise their own threatening impulses by attributing them to others. Ex: This can be shown when a wife is mad at her husband, but then insists that he is the one mad at her.
Sublimation
Psychoanalytic defense mechanism by which people re-channel their unacceptable impulses into socially approved activities. Ex: When Tony was angry after receiving a bad grade on a test, he went to the gym to lift weights.
Denial
Psychoanalytic defense mechanism by which people refuse to believe or even perceive painful realities. Ex: (Refer to Image). This is demonstrated when dying patients deny the severity of their illness.
Reaction Formation
Psychoanalytic defense mechanism by which the ego unconsciously switches unacceptable impulses into their opposites. Ex: This can occur when one repeats over and over than they are not mad, when her or she is actually enraged.
Regression
Psychoanalytic defense mechanism in which an individual faced with anxiety retreats to a more infantile psychosexual stage, where some psychic energy remains fixated. Ex: This can be shown in that if one becomes anxious, they will begin to suck his or her thumb for comfort (reverting back to a childhood behavior).
Rationalization
Psychoanalytic defense mechanism that offers self-justifying explanations in place of the real, more threatening, unconscious reasons for one's actions. Ex: If one did not study for a test, then they may rationalize that they were too tired, so any studying would not have made any difference.
Displacement
Psychoanalytic defense mechanism that shifts sexual or aggressive impulses toward a more acceptable or less threatening object or person, as when redirecting anger towards a safer outlet. Ex: When Sara's boyfriend broke up with her, she came home and screamed at her mom.
Do Personality Factors Cause Disease
Psychologists and scientists are cautious in their statements about connections between personality and health, because... (1) Many studies investigating the role of psychological factors in disease are correlational. (2) Personality factors might indirectly lead to disease via poor health habits. (3) It may be that disease influences a person's emotions, rather than the other way around.
Punishment effectiveness
Punishment is more effective if it immediately and consistently follows a response.
Myoclonic jerks
Quick, involuntary muscle movement while falling asleep
Throught the night
REM gets longer and NREM gets shorter
Yawning
Regulates and increases level of arousal; is contagious; may be related to our ability to feel empathy
Positive Reinforcement
Reinforcement involves following an operant with the addition of a reinforcing stimulus. behavior is strengthened
Microglia (type of glial cell)
Removes waste products from nervous system including dead and damaged neurons.
Whorfian hypothesis
Research does not support the Whorf's argument that language determines perception and the structure of thought. Research does support the idea that language can influence perception and thought.
Traits five-factor model of personality,
Research has shown that traits are remarkably stable over time. Traits are also generally consistent across different situations, but situational influences may affect their expression.
Talking while sleeping
Researchers have been unsuccessful in having extended dialogues with people who talk in their sleep
Ivan Pavlov
Russian physiologist who 1st described the basic process of conditioning. He received the Nobel Prize for his work on the role of saliva in digestion
Two-Factor Theory:
Schachter and Singer a) experience something; b) physiological changes; c) interpret changes and label them; d) label is your emotion
Behaviorism
School of psychology and theoretical viewpoint that emphasizes the study of observable negocios and how they obtain o the process of learning
Descriptive research
Scientific procedures that involve systematically observing behavior in order to describe the relationship among behaviors and events.
general adaptation syndrome
Selye's term for the three-stage progression of physical changes that occurs when an organism is exposed to intense and prolonged stress. 1. During the initial alarm stage, intense arousal occurs as the body mobilizes internal physical resources to meet the demands of the stress-producing event. 2. In the resistance stage, the body actively tries to resist or adjust to the continuing stressful situation. 3. If the stress-producing event persists, the exhaustion stage may occur, leading to exhaustion, physical disorders, and potentially death.
Proprioceptors
Sensory receptors, located in the muscles and joints, that provide information about body position and movement.
The Bilingual Mind
Several studies have found that bilingual speakers are better able to control attention and inhibit distracting information than are monolinguals Research suggests that bilinguals are better at taking the perspective of others such as imagining how another person might view a particular situation
delirium tremens (the DTs).
Shaking, hallucinations and confusion
Horney:
She believed that disturbances in human relationships, not sexual conflicts, were the cause of psychological problems. Such problems arise from the attempt to deal with basic anxiety.
Evaluating the Social Cognitive Perspective
Social cognitive perspective has been criticized for its limited view of personality; it focuses on very limited areas of psychology- learning, the effects of situations, and the effects of beliefs about the self - and ignores unconscious influences, emotions, and conflicts.
Intuition
Solutions achieved without conscious awareness of thought processes
Evaluating the Social Cognitive Perspective
Some psychologists feel that this approach applies best to laboratory research; they feel that clinical data rather than laboratory data may be more reflective of human personality.
cognitive reserve
Speaking two or more languages fluently seems to build up what researchers call a cognitive reserve that can help protect against cognitive decline in late adulthood
sensory receptors
Specialized cells unique to each sense organ that respond to a particular form of sensory stimulation.
Dreaming
Story like perception diring sleep; mlst often during REM but can occur less frequently in NREM; has characters and is creative
Eric Kandel
Studied the sea slug Aplysia and posited that learning and memory are evidenced by changes in synapses and neural pathways.
free-running cycle
Sunlight entrains (sets) the SCN so when we are in the absence of sunlight, we will drift towards a more natural rhythm- cycle-which is a little longer than a day (24.2-25 hours).
Carl Jung:
Swiss psychologist who broke from Freud to develop his own theory. Jung believed that people are motivated by a more general psychological energy that pushes them to achieve psychological growth, self-realization, and psychic wholeness and harmony.
Factors Involved in Becoming Overweight
The "SuperSize It" Syndrome Positive Incentive Value The Cafeteria Diet Effect Sedentary Lifestyles BMR: Individual Differences/Lifespan Changes Too Little Sleep
key psychosocial conflict facing adolescents is identity vs. role confusion
The adolescent's path to successful identity achievement begins with role confusion. This is followed by a moratorium period. Gradually, the adolescent arrives at an integrated identity
Late Adulthood and Aging
The average life expectancy for men in the U. S. in about 76 years; for women, it is about 81 years. The majority of older adults live healthy, active, and self-sufficient lives
Classical Conditioning:
The basic idea is that the organism learns an association between two stimuli because they have been paired together. The stimuli is unlearned (automatic) and is paired with a neutral stimulus. The unlearned stimuli will elicit a reflexive response
Physical Development
The basic sequence of motor skill development during infancy is universal, but the average ages can be a little deceptive (Each infant has its own genetically programmed timetable of physical maturation and developmental readiness to master different motor skills.)
nervous system
The body's communication network
Stuctural Plasticity
The brain's ability to change its physical structure in response to learning, active practice, or environmental influences.
Psychosexual Stages
The childhood stages of development (oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital) during which, according to Freud, the id's pleasure-seeking energies focus on distinct erogenous zones. Ex: (Refer to Image). These stages, while interesting, are deemed to be of little importance to modern psychologists in truly understanding one's personality.
Contemporary Views of Classical Conditioning
The contemporary view of learning acknowledges the importance of both mental and evolutionary factors
AD progressively destroys neurons in the brain.
The disease first attacks the temporal lobe affecting areas involved in memory. Next it affects the frontal areas, which are involved in thinking, reasoning, self-control, and planning. There is also significant loss in the limbic areas, involved in regulating emotions.
pituitary gland
The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Personal Control
The extent to which people perceive control over their environment rather than feeling helpless. Ex: Someone with a lack of personal control may contribute their poor grades in a class to their unchangeable amount of intellect (helplessness), and will fail to see that they could receive better grades if they would study more.
social cognitive perspective.
The idea that one's conscious thoughts in different situations strongly influence his/her actions is one important characteristic of the
forgetting
The inability to recall information that was previously available
loudness
The intensity (or amplitude) of a sound wave, measured in decibels.
Reciprocal Determinism
The interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition, and environment. Ex: (Refer to Image). Using reciprocal determinism, one can conclude that a person's characteristic love for loud music and the atmosphere of concerts can be influenced, by their friends (environment), own behavior, as well as their own optimum level of arousal (cognition).
Ego
The largely conscious, "executive" part of personality that, according to Freud, strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives. The ego operates on the reality principle, satisfying the id's desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain. Ex: A few weeks ago, my favorite show began to air its new season the night before an environmental science test. Though I wanted to watch the episode, my ego helped me to realize that if I didn't study I would receive a poor grade. As a result, I ended up studying for the test, and watched the show later.
axon
The long, fluid-filled tube that carries a neuron's messages to other body areas.
Rods
The long, thin, blunt sensory receptors of the eye that are highly sensitive to light, but not to color, and that are primarily responsible for peripheral vision and night vision. 125 million
maintenance rehearsal
The mental or verbal repetition of information in order to maintain it beyond the usual 20-second duration of short-term memory.
stimulus threshold
The minimum level of stimulation required to activate a particular neuron.
Frequency of conditioning
The more frequently the conditioned stimulus (neutral) and unconditioned stimulus are paired, the stronger the association between the two will get
Source Traits
The most fundamental dimensions of personality; the broad, basic traits that are hypothesized to be universal and relatively few in number.
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
The most widely researched and clinically used of all personality tests. Ex: Originally developed to identify emotional disorders (still considered the most appropriate use), this test is not used for many other screening purposes.
Rorschach Inkblot Test
The most widely used projective test, a set of 10 inkblots, designed by Hermann Rorschach; seeks to identify people's inner feelings by analyzing their interpretations of the blots. Ex: (Refer to Image) One may describe this image as depicting a wolf or a woman's body.
dendrites
The multiple short fibers that extend from a neuron's cell body and receive information from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells.
brainstem
The oldest part and central core of the brain, responsible for automatic survival functions. made up of the hindbrain and the midbrain
cell body
The part of a cell that processes nutrients and provides energy for the neuron to function; contains the cell's nucleus; also called the soma.
Superego
The part of personality that, according to Freud, represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgement (the conscience) and for future aspirations. Ex: (Refer to Image). A few weeks ago, my favorite show began to air its new season the night before an environmental science test. Though I wanted to watch the episode, my superego helped me realize that if I didn't study for the test, I would be acting lackadaisical, and feel bad about my poor performance later. As a result, I ended up studying for the test, and watching the show later.
middle ear
The part of the ear that amplifies sound waves; consists of three small bones: the hammer, the anvil, and the stirrup.
outer ear
The part of the ear that collects sound waves; consists of the pinna, the ear canal, and the eardrum.
central executive
The part of working memory that is responsible for monitoring and directing attention and other mental resources.
Brightness
The perceived intensity of a color, which corresponds to the amplitude of the light wave.
External Locus of Control
The perception that chance or outside forces beyond your personal control determine your fate. Ex: (Refer to Image). Many religions encourage the external locus of control as many of them believe that a higher power controls people's fate.
Internal Locus of Control
The perception that you control your own fate. Ex: (Refer to Image).
color
The perceptual experience of different wavelengths of light, involving hue, saturation (purity), and brightness (intensity).
Emerging Adulthood
The period of life from the late teens until the mid- to late-20s is a distinct stage of the lifespan now; Many emerging adults feel "in between" since they are no longer adolescents, but not quite adults.
The Mysterious Placebo Effect
The placebo effect refers to the benefits that research participants derive from placebos. To test why placebos reduce pain, researchers placed painfully hot metal on the back of each volunteer's hand and then injected either an actual opioid painkiller or a saline solution placebo. Both groups reported pain relief, and on PET scans, both groups showed activation of the anterior cingulate cortex. Results: This study shows that cognitive expectations, learned associations, and emotional responses can have a profound effect on the perception of pain.
Detecting Lies
The polygraph measures physiological changes associated with emotion like fear, tension, and anxiety. Heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and other indicators.
encoding specificity principle
The principle that when the conditions of information retrieval are similar to the conditions of information encoding, retrieval is more likely to be successful.
Reuptake
The process by which neurotransmitter molecules detach from a postsynaptic neuron and are reabsorbed by a synaptic neuron so they can be recycled reused
Identification
The process by which, according to Freud, children incorporate their parents' values into their developing superegos. Ex: Children eventually cope with the threatened feelings by repressing them and by identifying with (trying to become like) the rival parent—form gender identities (sense of being male or female). Through this identification process, children's superegos gain strength as they incorporate many of their parents' values.
Sensation
The process of detecting a physical stimulus, such as light, sound, heat, or pressure.
Critical Thinking/Effects of Childcare
The quality of the day care center will determine the benefit to the child
frequency
The rate of vibration, or the number of sound waves per second.
synaptic transmissions
The relaying of information across the synapse by means of chemical neurotransmitters.
cerebral hemispheres
The right and left halves of the cerebrum.
Positive Psychology
The scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive. Ex: (Refer to Image). In order to help heal one of a mental ailment, one that supports positive psychology may help the person to instead of reflecting on where things have gone wrong in their life, one may help the patient to focus on the positive aspects in their life, along with positive ways to better the person's mental state.
cones
The short, thick, pointed sensory receptors of the eye that detect color and are responsible for color vision and visual acuity. 6-7 million
difference threshold
The smallest possible difference between two stimuli that can be detected half the time; also called just noticeable difference.
biological psychology
The specialized branch of psychology that studies the relationship between behavior and bodily processes and systems; also called biopsychology or psychobiology.
prenatal stage
The stage of development before birth; divided into the germinal, embryonic, and fetal periods.
resting potential
The state in which a neuron is prepared to activate and communicate its message if it receives sufficient stimulation.
neuroscience
The study of the nervous system, especially the brain.
Watson study (infamously known)
The subject was 9-mth-old "Little Albert" eventually Little Albert was conditioned to fear a thing that he previously liked (white rat) because it was paired with a feared stimulus (clang of a steel bar)
glial cells or glia
The support cells that assist neurons by providing structural support, nutrition, and removal of cell wastes; glial cells manufacture myelin.
working memory
The temporary storage and active, conscious manipulation of information needed for complex cognitive tasks, such as reasoning, learning, and problem solving.
Self-Serving Bias
The tendency to attribute one's success to internal factors while attributing one's failures to external factors. Ex: When Daniel gets a good grade on his test, he says that it's because he studied hard, but when he receives poor grades, he says that it's because he had too much work to do, and that his parents made him go to sleep early.
overestimation effect
The tendency to overestimate the rarity of events
trichromatic theory of color vision
The theory that the sensation of color results because cones in the retina are especially sensitive to red light (long wavelengths), green light (medium wavelengths), or blue light (short wavelengths).
optic nerve
The thick nerve that exits from the back of the eye and carries visual information to the visual cortex in the brain.
Timing of conditioning
The timing of the stimulus presentations also affects the strength of the conditioned response; conditioning most effective when the conditioned stimulus is presented immediately before the unconditioned stimulus. A half-second is the optimal time interval
synaptic gap
The tiny space between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of an adjoining neuron
intelligence
The use of mental images and concepts, problem solving and decision-making, and the use of language
place theory
The view that different frequencies cause larger vibrations at different locations along the basilar membrane.
frequency theory
The view that the basilar membrane vibrates at the same frequency as the sound wave
In 1921, Terman identified 1,500 California children with IQ's above 140 and began a longitudinal research study to see how genius-level intelligence would affect the course of their lives
These children tended to be socially well adjusted. They were taller, stronger, and healthier than average children and had fewer illnesses and accidents. As adults (as a group) their incomes were very high, 2/3's graduated from college, and many became successful professional. Personality factors seemed to account for the difference in the level of accomplishment of the 100 most successful and the 100 least successful men. (The most successful were more goal-oriented, had greater perseverance, and had greater self-confidence.) IQ scores reliably predict academic success, but success in school is no guarantee of success beyond school
Self-Actualization Needs
This high level will only appear after all others have been satisfied and according to Maslow, all people need to feel self-actualized in order to be mentally healthy and happy
synaptic vesicles
Tiny pouches or sacs in the axon terminals that contain chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Shaping and Maintaining Behavior
To scientifically study the relationship between behavior and its consequences in the laboratory, Skinner invented the Skinner Box, Operant Chamber;
Maslow finds that the need for self-actualization generally emerges after the love and esteem needs have been reasonably satisfied. Values held by self-actualized individuals are as follows
Truth Justice Goodness Order Beauty Simplicity Aliveness Richness Individuality Playfulness Perfection Effortlessness Necessity Completion Self-sufficiency Meaningfulness
Turning Your Goals into Reality
Turn your goals into action: form an actual goal and set specific concrete ways to reach it, be intentional about your behaviors
hertz
Unit of frequency
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
Used to evaluate potential recruits for ww1
Social Development in Adulthood
Variations in the Paths of Adult Social Development -in 2012, well over 8 million unmarried couples were living together -more than 30% of children are being raised by a single parent -more than half of all first marriages end in divorce, so remarrying and starting a "second family" later in life is not unusual -there are also gay and lesbian couples in committed, long-term, relationships -in the end, any relationship that promotes the overall sense of happiness and well-being of the people involved is a successful one
Social-Cognitive Perspective
Views behavior as influenced by the interaction between people's traits (including their thinking) and their social context. Ex: (Refer to Image).
REM sleep
Visual and motor muerons in the brain activate repeatedly just as they do wakefulness; sleepers eyes move and sleeper is paraliysed; heart rate, blood pressure, respirations can fluctuate
Hypnagogic hallucinations
Vivid dreamlike hallucination that occurs while you are falling asleep
Watson study
Watson and graduate student Rosalie Rayner were set to demonstrate that classical conditioning could be used to deliberately establish conditioned emotional response in a human subject.
how do classical conditioning and operant conditioning impact your motivation to eat
We should stop eating when we feel satiated. This feeling is due to the CCK hormone (short for cholecystokinin) secreted by the small intestine that promotes a "full" feeling. *unless we experience "sensory-specific satiety" and are now tired of our main meal, but we can be ready for that piece of chocolate cake
Sleep patterns throughout lifetime
We slend less time sleeping/ less time in NREM 3/4; up to an hour is spent dozing- less time in REM too
Relationships with others also can be a significant source of stress
When other people are perceived as being judgmental, their presence may increase the individual's physical reaction to a stressor. Women may be particularly vulnerable to some of the problematic aspects of social support. Women are more likely than men to serve as providers of support, which can be a very stressful role. Women may be more likely to suffer from the stress contagion effect Men tend to rely heavily on a close relationship with their spouse, placing less importance on relationships with other people
inferiority complex.
When people are unable to compensate for specific weaknesses or when their feelings of inferiority are excessive, they can develop
Ongoing or chronic stress may result in
When people live in an environment that is inherently stressful. People in the lowest socioeconomic levels of society tend to have the highest levels of psychological distress, illness, and death. They also experience more health and economic problems and more incidents of violence.
Love and Belongingness Needs
When the physiological and safety needs are met, needs for love, affection, and belonging appear. The person hungers for affectionate relations with people, for a place in a group, and will strive with great intensity to achieve this goal.
the drug rebound effect
When the withdrawal symptoms experienced are the opposite of the drug's action
neodissociation theory of hypnosis.
While one stream is "hidden observer" and has responding to the hypnotist's suggestions, the other dissociated stream is operating as suspended judgement on the behavior and actions taking place.
consciousness
Your immediate awareness of thoughts, sensations, memories, and the world around you
retinal disparity
a binocular cue for perceiving depth by comparing images from the retinas in the two eyes, the brain computes distance—the greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object.
Antagonist
a chemical substance that blocks or reduces the effects of a neurotransmitter
cornea
a clear membrane covering the visible part of the eye that helps gather and direct incoming light
retrieval cues
a clue, prompt, or hint that helps trigger recall of a given piece of information stored in long-term memory
amygdala
a cluster of neurons in the brain that largely controls the body's fear response and emotions
cochlea
a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear through which sound waves trigger nerve impulses
intellectual disabilities
a condition in which IQ is 70 or below, has little empirical evidence to support it
astigmatism
a condition in which the eye does not focus properly because of uneven curvatures of the cornea
Howard Gardner
a contemporary American psychologist, contends that there are "multiple intelligences" - eight independent intelligences- with each being defined within the context of a particular culture
Intellectualization
a coping mechanism in which the person analyzes a situation from an emotionally detached viewpoint
false memory
a distorted or fabricated recollection of something that did not actually occur
Ghrelin
a hormone manufactured in the stomach stimulates appetite and secretes growth hormone by the pituitary gland. Levels of this hormone rise sharply before eating and fall abruptly after eating
Leptin
a hormone produced by fat cells that signals hypothalamus, regulating hunger and eating behaviors; it is directly correlated to the amount of body fat one has
long-term potentiation
a long-lasting increase in synaptic strength between two neurons
"Club Drugs"
a loose collection of psychoactive drugs that are popular at dance clubs, parties, and "raves." Many are designer drugs that were manufactured in a laboratory.
Mental age
a measure of intelligence test performance devised by Binet; the chronological age that most typically corresponds to a given level of performance
source confusion
a memory distortion that occurs when the true source of the memory is forgotten
deja vu experience
a memory illusion characterized by brief but intense feelings of familiarity in a situation that has never been experienced before
imagination inflation
a memory phenomenon in which vividly imagining an event markedly increases confidence that the event actually occurred
stage model of memory
a model describing memory as consisting of three distinct stages: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory
substance p
a neurotransmitter involved in pain perception
Epigenetics
a new field that studies the mechanisms that control gene expression (which genes are activated) and their effects on behaviors and health
Correlation coefficient
a numerical indication of the magnitude and direction of the relationship between two variables
refractory period
a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired
operational definition
a precise description of how the variables in a study will be manipulated or measured
Punishment
a process in which a behavior is followed by an aversive consequence that decreases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated
top-down processing
a progression from the whole to the elements
Alzheimer's disease
a progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and, finally, physical functioning
positive correlation
a relationship between variables in which one variable increases as the other variable also increases
correlational study
a research project designed to discover the degree to which two variables are related to each other
id
a reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that, according to Freud, strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives. The id operates on the pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification.
Representative sample
a sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population as a whole
script
a schema for the typical sequence of an everyday event
prolonged stress activates
a second endocrine pathway that involves the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the adrenal cortex
meta-analysis
a statistical technique that averages the results of two or more studies to see if the effect of an independent variable is reliable
Algorithms
a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem
visuospatial sketchpad
a storage component of working memory that maintains visual images and spatial material
Natural experiment
a study investigating the effects of a naturally occurring event on the research participants
Insight
a sudden realization of the solution to a problem
Biofeedback
a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension
Confirmation bias
a tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence
retina
a thin, light-sensitive membrane, located at the back of the eye, that contains the sensory receptors for vision
ear drum
a tightly stretched membrane at the end of the ear canal that vibrates when hit by sound waves
Facial feedback hypothesis
a) experience something; b) belief that if one expresses a certain emotion, especially facially, they will "trigger" the subjective experience (feeling) of that emotion
Cannon Bard Theory:
a) experience something; b) physiological change and experience emotion simultaneously (due to thalamus sending message to multiple parts of brain at the same time)
James-Lange Theory
a) experience something; b) physiological changes; c) experience emotion
Unconditional positive regard
according to Rogers, an attitude of total acceptance toward another person
Optimistic explanatory style
accounting for negative events or situations with external, unstable, and specific explanations
ions
action potential is produced by the movement of electricity charged particles across the membrane of the axon
Formal Operational Stage
ages 12+ (adolescence into adulthood); this stage is characterized by the ability to think logically about abstract principles and hypothetical situations
Preoperational Stage
ages 2-7 years; in Piaget's theory, the word operations refers to logical mental activities; thus, this stage reflects type of pre logical thinking in a child characterized by symbolic thought, egocentrism, irreversibility, centration, and a lack of conservation understanding.
Concrete Operational Stage
ages 7-11; stage is characterized by the ability to think logically about concrete (tangible) objects and situations
Sensorimotor Stage (Piaget)
ages birth to 2 years; infants acquire knowledge about the world through actions that allow them to directly experience and manipulate objects; object permanence; schemas
Robert Sternberg
agrees with Gardner that intelligence is a much broader quality than is reflected in the narrow range of mental abilities measured by a conventional IQ test
pheripheral nervous system
all nerves outside the central nervous system
directly affected by stress
altering bodily functions, leading to symptoms, illness, or disease.
G. Stanley Hall
american psychologist who established the first psychology research laboratory in the United States and founded the American Psychological Association (first Phd in America)
humanistic psychology
an approach to understanding human nature that emphasizes the potential growth and self direction
mood congruence
an encoding specificity phenomenon in which a given mood tends to evoke memories that are consistent with that mood
Attachment Theory developed by John Bowlby and Mary D. Salter Ainsworth
an infant's ability to thrive physically and psychologically depends in part on the quality of attachment
Case study
an intensive study of a single individual or small group of individuals
schema
an organized cluster of information about a particular topic
Cognitive abilities
analyzing situations, solving problems, making decisions, and using language, are widely regarded as key dimensions of intelligence.
Dissociative anesthetics
another class of club drugs that deaden pain, at high doses, they can induce a stupor or coma.
Behavior Modification
application of learning principles to help people develop more effective or adaptive behaviors. The (systematic) use of reinforcements and shaping that results in getting an increased desired behavior from the organism.
Break Set
approaching a problem in a novel, new, workable way; this is when one is demonstrating creativity
Tranquilizers
are depressants that relieve anxiety. (Common prescription drugs are Xanax, Valium, Librium, and Ativan.)
Traumatic events
are events or situations that are negative, severe, and far beyond our normal expectations for everyday life. Some psychologically vulnerable people may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Teratogens
are harmful agents or substances that can cause abnormal development or birth defects. (Ex: radiation; toxic chemicals; viruses or bacteria; and/or drugs.)
Chromosomes
are long, threadlike structures composed of twisted parallel strands of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) found in the nucleus of the cell.
Exemplars
are our stored memories of individual instances/examples of a concept... they will differ from person to person or culture to culture
Surface Traits
are personality elements that can be directly observed
Self-Report inventories
are psychological tests in which people's responses to standardized questions are compared with established norms.
Telomeres
are repeated, duplicate DNA sequences that are found at the very tips of chromosomes. They protect the genetic data in the chromosomes from being broken or scrambled during cell division. With each cell division, the string of telomeres gets shorter.
substania nigra
area of the midbrain that is involved in motor control and contains a large concentration of dopamine-producing neurons
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
linguistic relativity hypothesis or Whorfian hypothesis
argues that differences among languages causes differences in the thoughts of their speakers.
Negative correlation
as one variable increases, the other decreases or vice versa
Psychological tests
assess a person's abilities, aptitudes, interests, or personality on the basis of systematically obtained sample of behavior.
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
assesses personality characteristics and psychology disorders; it is used to assess both normal and disturbed populations.
California Personality Inventory
assesses personality characteristics on normal populations.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
assesses personality types by measuring a person's preferred way of dealing with information, making decisions, and interacting with others, through 4 categories of preferences assumed to be dichotomies. (There are 16 different types.)
Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe's Social Readjustment Rating Scale
assessment that measures the amount of stress in a person's life over a one-year period resulting from major life events (43 events)
insecure attachment
attachments marked by anxiety or ambivalence
Secure attachment
attachments rooted in trust and marked by intimacy
emotion-focused coping
attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs related to one's stress reaction
A personality theory
attempts to describe and explain similarities and differences in people's patterns of thinking, feeling, and behavior.
Attention in our daily lives
attention has a limited capacity attention is selective attention can be blind
VR;
because of the unpredictability, this produces a steady high rate of responding
Behavior Modification Has
been successful in improving worker performance, increasing social skills in children, and promoting sleep at night
FI;
behavior increases closer to end of preset time
twin studies and adoption studies,
behavioral genetics have found that certain personality traits are substantially influenced by genetics, especially extraversion and neuroticism. Openness to experience and conscientiousness are also substantially influenced by genetics, although to a lesser degree than extraversion and neuroticism.
John B. Watson
behaviorism; emphasis on external behaviors of people and their reactions on a given situation; famous for Little Albert study in which baby was taught to fear a white rat
Jean Piaget
believed that children actively try to make sense out of their environment rather than passively soaking up information about the world
S. Freud-
believed that dreams represent our urges and wishes. They serve as a "safety valve" for the unconscious.
Louis L. Thurstone
believed that there were seven different "primary mental abilities," each a relatively independent element of intelligence
Albert Bandura
believes that observational learning is the result of cognitive processes that are "actively judgmental and constructive," not merely "mechanical copying."
Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination Theory
believes that people are growth oriented and strive toward harmony with others; said we have 3 innate needs that we are motivated to satisfy... 1) autonomy (control over own behavior and goals), 2) competence (learn and master tasks), and 3) relatedness (feel connected to others).
The brains of AD patients develop an abundance of two abnormal structures
beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
glucose
blood sugar in the body, this is the main source of energy for all mammals
adipose tissue
body fat; the main source of stored calories; can be used if necessary
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
Sleep Thinking
brain functions during sleep; produce vague, repetitive, bland, uncreative images about real-life events; occur during NREM sleep
Hypothalamus
brain region controlling the pituitary gland
cross-cultural psychology
branch of psychology that studies the effects of culture on behavior and mental processes
nerves
bundles of neuron axons that carry information in the peripheral nervous system
media violence
can cause short-term aggressive behavior Psychologists generally agree that some viewers are highly susceptible to the negative effects of media violence
procedual memory
category of long-term memory that included memories of different skills, operations, and actions
ventricles
cerebrospinal fluid that fills four hollow cavities in the brain called
hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
agonist
chemical substance that binds to a receptor site and triggers a response in the cell
Noam Chomsky
children are born with a biological predisposition to learn language; "universal grammar"
integrated identity
choosing among the alternatives and making commitments
Paul Ekman and Walter Friesen
coded different facial expressions by analyzing facial muscles involved in producing each facial expression. (Ekman found possible 7,000 facial expressions)
Edward C. Tolman
cognitive processes played an important role in the learning of complex behaviors
identity-acheivement
commitment to values, beliefs, and goals following a period of exploration
microaggressions
common, everyday verbal or behavioral indignities and slights that communicate hostile, derogatory, and negative messages about someone's race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion
presynaptic neuron
conducts impulses toward the synapse
three different levels of awareness
conscious level, the preconscious/subconscious level, and the unconscious level
Reliability
consistency of measurement
Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development
consists of 8 stages of life, each associated with a particular psychosocial conflict that can be resolved in either a positive or negative direction.
Psychedelic drugs
create sensory and perceptual distortions, alter moods, and affect thinking.
self-efficacy.
critical self-system our beliefs of self-efficacy.
demand characteristics
cues in an experiment that tell the participant what behavior is expected
Collectivistic cultures
cultures that emphasize the needs and goals of the group over the needs and goals of the individual
inhibitory message
decreases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will activate
collective unconscious,
deepest part of the individual psyche which is shared by all people and reflects humanity's collective evolutionary history.
Compartmentalization
defense mechanism by which neurotics alleviate tensions by separating beliefs and actions within themselves
Rationalization
defense mechanism that offers self-justifying explanations in place of the real, more threatening, unconscious reasons for one's actions
Stress
defined as a negative emotional state occurring in response to events that are perceived as taxing or exceeding a person's resources or ability to cope
Standardization
defining meaningful scores by comparison with the performance of a pretested group
John Garcia
demonstrated that taste aversions could be produced in laboratory rats under controlled conditions. His findings challenged several of the basic beliefs of classical conditioning.
Inhalants:
depress the central nervous system
Alcohol:
depresses the neurons throughout the brain and impairs cognitive and speech, as well as physical abilities
monocular cues
depth cues available to either eye alone
binocular cues
depth cues that depend on the use of two eyes
Marijuana
derived from the hemp plant (cannabis sativa) and is one of the most widely used illegal drugs. The chemical THC is the active ingredient in marijuana.
Basic goals of psychology
describe, predict, explain, control/influence
Cardiologists Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman
described the Type A behavior pattern as a behavioral and emotional style characterized by a sense of time urgency, hostility, and intense ambition and competitiveness. (risk of heart disease) In contrast, people who were more relaxed and laid back were classified as displaying the Type B behavior pattern.
Richard Lazarus
developed a scale to measure daily hassles- everyday occurrences that annoy and upset people
Hans Eysenck
developed a trait theory of personality that includes three basic dimensions. Eysenck believed that individual differences in personality were due to biological differences among people. (1) Introversion - Extroversion (2) Neuroticism- Emotional Stability (3) Psychoticism
David Wechsler
developed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) - first published in 1955. He believed that intelligence involved a variety of different mental abilities. The 4th edition of WAIS (WAIS-IV) is the most commonly administered intelligence test
Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon
devised a series of tests to measure different mental abilities
polarized
difference between inside and outside of neuron (description of neuron waiting fo stimulation)
Ivan Pavlov
discovered classical conditioning; trained dogs to salivate at the ringing of a bell
myopia
distant objects appear blurry because the light reflected off the objects focuses in front of the retina
Aplysia
do not have a true brain and are capable of only basic responses to the environment
Gestalt Psychology
early perspective in psychology focusing on perception and sensation, particularly the perception of patterns and whole figures or gestalts founded by max wertheimer
serotonin
emotional states, sleep, sensory perception (depression)
3 broad categories of social suppor
emotional, tangible, and informational
triarchic theory of intelligence
emphasizes both the universal aspects of intelligent behavior and the importance of adapting to a particular social and cultural environment
social cognitive theory
emphasizes the social origins of thoughts and actions but also stresses active cognitive processes and the human capacity for self-regulation.
Acetylcholine
enables muscle action, learning, and memory (Alzheimer's)
The currently accepted heritability
estimate for intelligence is about 50 percent for the general population... that is, about 50 percent of the difference in IQ scores within a given population is due to genetic factors
Narcolepsy-
excessive daytime sleepiness and brief episodes of sleep at any time sleep attacks or microsleep; can last seconds to several minutes
Glutamate
excitatory messages (seizures, Alzheimer's)
andropause
experience a gradual decline in testosterone levels
white matter
extending inward from the cerebral cortex are white myelinated axons
Nicotine
extremely addictive stimulant found in all tobacco products. It increases mental alertness and reduces fatigue or drowsiness.
presbyopia
farsightedness caused by loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye, occurring typically in middle and old age.
Watson identified three emotions that he believed were innate
fear, rage, and love He believed that each emotion could be reflexively triggered by small number of specific stimuli.
intrinsic
find task inherently satisfying and enjoyable
Polarized concentration of particular ions while in resting potential
fluid surrounding axon contains larger concentration of sodium ions, the fluid within the axon contains a larger concentration of potassium ions
Trait theories
focus on identifying, describing, and measuring individual differences in behavioral predispositions.
Physiological Needs
food, water, warmth, sex, sleep, oxygen, freedom from pain, and elimination
retroactive interference
forgetting in which a new memory interferes with remembering an old memory; backward-acting memory interference
proactive memory
forgetting in which an old memory interferes with remembering a new memory; forward-acting memory interference
Martin Seligman
found that how people characteristically explain their failures and defeats makes a difference (optimistic vs. pessimistic theories)
brent strickland and frank keil
found that pre-existing schemas can distort memories for events within seconds of viewing them
Personality theories grouped
four basic perspectives: psychoanalytic; humanistic; social cognitive; and the trait perspectives.
FMRI
functional magnetic resonance imaging
nodes of ranvier
gaps in the myelin sheath
Karl Duncker
german gestalt psychologist who is nest known for his studies on the perception of motion
Wilhelm Wundt
german physiologist who founded psychology as a formal science; opened first psychology research laboratory in 1879, emphasized experimental methods to study and measure consciousness
gray matter
glial cells, neuron bodies and axons that make up the cerebral cortex and have a grayish appearance
limbic system
group of forebrain structures that form a border around brainstem and involved in emotion, motivation, learning and memory
K. Warner Schaie
has found that general intellectual abilities gradually increase until one's early forties, then become relatively stable until about age 60, when a small but steadily increasing percentage of older adults experience slight declines on tests of general intellectual abilities.
Bandura's research
has shown that we observe the consequences that follow people's actions, the rules and standards that apply to behavior in specific situations, and the ways in which people regulate their own behavior.
temporal lobe
hearing
FR;
high rate of response followed by a pause after reinforcement (knows it's a long time until next reinforcer)
Catecholamines
hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla that affect the sympathetic nervous system in stress response
animus.
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
Observational Learning
how we acquire new behaviors by watching the actions of others.
human chemosignals
human pheromones
adrenal glands, adrenal cortex, adrenal medulla
human stress response, outer portion of glands, inner portion-secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine
"Third force"
humanistic psychology.
types of sensory memory
iconic (visual) and echoic (auditory)
"actualizing tendency."
in Roger's theory, the innate drive to maintain and enhance the human organism
corpus callosum
in forebrain and is a thick band of axons connecting the 2 hemispheres of the cerebral cortex
Cerebellum
in the hindbrain-Balance and coordination and posture
medulla
in the hindbrain-controls heartbeat and breathing
pons
in the hindbrain-coordinates movement on left and right sides of body
reticular formation
in the hindbrain-regulates attention and alertness
bipolar cells
in the retina the specialized neurons that connect the rods and the cones with the ganglion cells
aphasia
inability to speak
Respect from others
includes such concepts as prestige, recognition,acceptance, attention, status, reputation, and appreciation
Self-Esteem
includes such needs as a desire for confidence, competence,mastery, adequacy, achievement, independence, and freedom
Stimulants
increase brain activity. produce a level of distortion to the person's mood, and thinking.
excitatory message
increases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will activate
implicit memory
information or knowledge that affects behavior or task performance but cannot be consciously recollected; also called non-declarative memory
GABA
inhibitory messages (anxiety disorders)
EEG-electroencephalograph
introduced in the 1920s and gave sleep researchers a tool for measuring the rhythmic electrical activity of the brain. The EEG produces a graphic record called an EEG or electroencephalogram
Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire
inventory developed by Raymond Cattell that generates a personality profile with ratings on 16 traits dimensions.
Dyssomnias:
involve disruptions in the amount, quality, or timing of sleep inability
Parasomnias:
involve undesirable physical arousal, behaviors, or events during sleep or sleep transition times
midbrain
involved in processing visual and auditory information
Negative Reinforcement
involves an operant that is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus.
Thinking
involves manipulating mental representations of information in order to draw inferences and conclusions
Shaping
involves reinforcing successively closer approximations of a behavior until the correct behavior is displayed
taste aversion
is a classically conditioned intense dislike for and the avoidance of a particular food that develops when an organism becomes ill after eating the food.
Absentmindedness
is a form of encoding failure that occurs because you don't pay enough attention to a bit of information when you should be encoding it - often because your attention was divided
Creativity
is a group of cognitive processes used to generate useful, original, and novel ideas or solutions to problems
concept
is a mental category of objects, events, or situations that share similar features or characteristics
mental image
is a mental representation of objects or events that are not physically present. We scan a mental image in much the same way we would scan the actual image. Can involve any of the senses.
Reciprocal determinism
is a model proposed by Bandura that explains human functioning and personality as caused by the interaction of *behavioral, *cognitive, and *environmental factors.
Neurodiversity
is a new approach to spectrum disorders, viewing autism as a disability or difference (not a disease or disorder)
Identity
is a person's definition or description of themselves, including the values, beliefs, and ideals that guide the individual's behavior
Learning
is a process that produces a relatively enduring change in behavior or knowledge or as a result of an individual's experience
Graphology
is a pseudoscience that claims that your handwriting reveals your temperament, personality traits, intelligence, and reasoning ability.
fight-or-flight response
is a rapidly occurring chain of internal physical reactions that prepare people either to fight or take flight from an immediate threat
Language
is a system for combining random symbols to produce an unlimited number of meaningful statements
Stimulus control therapy
is a technique you can implement on you own for treating insomnia. It is designed to help you establish a consistent sleep-wake schedule and associate your bedroom and bedtime with falling asleep.
gene
is a unit of DNA instructions for making a particular protein molecule. Proteins are used in virtually all of the body's functions
Personality
is an individual's unique and relatively consistent patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving
Psychoneuroimmunology
is an interdisciplinary field which studies the connections among psychological processes (psycho-), the nervous system (-neuro-), and the immune system (-immunology)
Conditioned Stimulus (CS):
is an originally neutral stimulus that comes to elicit a reflexive response when you hear the word "conditioned" think "learned!"
Albert Bandura
is best known for his classic research on observational learning (ch. 5) and his more recent research on self-efficacy (ch. 8). Both topics are reflected his social cognitive theory.
Authoritarian parenting style
is demanding and unresponsive toward the child's needs and wishes. Children tend to grow up to be moody, unhappy, fearful, withdrawn, unspontaneous, and irritable;this style promotes resentment and rebellion
number of daily hassles
is linked to both psychological distress and physical symptoms, and it is a better predictor of physical illness than is the number of major life events experienced. (daily hassles can take a toll on us is that minor stressors are cumulative.)
*A conditioned (secondary) reinforcer
is one that has acquired reinforcing value by being associated with a primary reinforcer; is conditioned reinforcer.
*A primary reinforcer
is one that is naturally reinforcing for a given species, such as food, water, adequate warmth, and sexual contact.
Emotional Intelligence
is one's ability to manage their own emotions, comprehend emotions of others, and respond appropriately to emotions of others
Multi-tasking
is paying attention to 2+ sources of stimuli at once. Tasks that are very different and call upon a different sense are less likely to interfere with each other. However, this is not the case when one task requires a great deal of concentration!
Stage 3
is referred to as a transition stage; the brain and body are slowing down and relaxing more as you are falling into a deeper sleep; theta +50%/delta 20-50%
Permissive - Indulgent parenting style
is responsive, warm, and accepting, but imposes few rules and rarely punishes
Health psychology
is the branch of psychology that studies how biological, behavioral, and social factors influence health, illness, medical treatment, and health-related behaviors.
Once delta waves are +50% and theta are -50% and you are in Stage 4
is the deepest these stages last 20-40 minutes; sleepwalking/sleep talking would occur in this stage sleep of the night; the body and brain are at the lowest/laziest/most relaxed points;
Self-efficacy
is the degree to which you are convinced of your ability to effectively meet the demands of a situation
Extinction
is the gradual weakening and apparent disappearance of the conditioned response. Extinction will occur when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without being paired with the unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned Response (CR):
is the learned, reflexive response to a previously neutral stimulus (HINT: The UCR and the CR are essentially the same thing.)
Conditioning
is the process of learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses. There are two basic types of 1. Classical 2. Operant
Spontaneous Recovery
is the reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period without exposure to the conditioned stimulus
zygote
is the single cell formed at conception; it contains the unique set of genetic instructions inherited from your biological parents
Puberty
is the stage of adolescence in which an individual reaches sexual maturity and becomes physiologically capable of sexual reproduction
Acculturative stress
is the stress that results from the pressure of adapting to a new culture.
Confirmation bias
is the strong tendency to search for information or evidence that confirms a belief, while making little or no effort to search for information that might disprove the belief
fallacy of positive instances
is the tendency to remember uncommon events that seem to confirm our beliefs and to forget events that disconfirm out beliefs
Sigmund Freud/Psychoanalysis
is the theory of personality that emphasizes the unconscious elements of behavior, sexual and aggressive instinctual drives, and the enduring effects of early childhood experience on later personality development.
Adolescence
is the transitional stage between late childhood and the beginning of adulthood
Permissive - Indifferent parenting style
is unresponsive and uncontrolling; uninvolved
Punishment can have several drawbacks
it does not teach a more appropriate response; it may have undesirable results, such as complete passivity, fear, anxiety, or hostility; and its effects likely to be temporary
frontal lobe
largest lobe in cerebral hemisphere involved in voluntary movements and thinking, planning and emotional control
Humanistic Theories of Motivation
late 1950s; motivated to realize highest potential; Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Cognitive-Appraisal (Mediational) Theory:
lazarus a) experience something; b) cognitive appraisal of the situation; c) experience emotion due to your cognitive appraisal
learning learning
learning that is not immediately demonstrated in overt behaviors occurred.
Eros:
life instinct, biological urges that perpetuate the existence of the individual and the species such as hunger, thirst, physical comfort, and sexuality.
activity theory of aging
life satisfaction in late adulthood is highest when people maintain their previous level of activity
anima
life, breath; spirit
c fibers
long, dull pain
Colin DeYoung and his colleagues
looked at whether personality traits were associated with specific brain structures.
anterograde amnesia
loss of memory caused by the inability to store new memories
retrograde amnesia
loss of memory from the point of some injury or trauma backwards, or loss of memory for the past
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
Asperger's syndrome
may have normal language development but may exhibit unusually narrow interests and inflexible behavior
hindbrain
medulla, pons, cerebellum
Hippocampous
memory
Source memory (monitoring)
memory for when, where, and how a particular experience or piece of information was acquired
Physiologically gender differences
men and women show the same hormonal and sympathetic nervous system activation in response to stress
behavioral gender differences
men usually fight or flee and women usually tend and befriend (According to the evolutionary perspective, the most adaptive response is one that promotes the survival of the individual and his or her offspring. The level of the hormone oxytocin is higher in females than in males. Oxytocin-related changes seem to help turn down the physiological intensity of the fight-or-fight response for women.)
Natural Concepts
mental category that is formed as a result of everyday experiences; its boundaries are more "fuzzy" and not clearly defined
Formal Concepts
mental category that is formed by learning the rules or features that define it (geometric shapes)
cognitive map
mental representation of an area
Mental Rehearsal
mentally visualizing yourself in the process of dealing effectively with a situation can enhance your performance
conventional level
middle stage of moral development; at this level, strict adherence to societal rules and the approval of others determine what is moral
Body Mass Index (BMI)
most widely used scale involving adult height and weight to determine status of underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese
Stage 2 NREM
mostly theta waves and the first signs of delta waves; brief bursts of brain activity (sleep spindles) and single high-voltage spikes of activity (K complexes) happen stage; lasts about 15-20 minutes
Suppression
motivated forgetting that occurs consciously; a deliberate attempt to not think about and remember specific information
repression
motivated forgetting that occurs unconsciously; a memory that is blocked and unavailable to consciousness
Arousal Theory
motivated to maintain optimal level of arousal—not too high, not too low! Level varies from person to person; "sensation-seeking;""manipulation motive;" "curiosity motive;" Harry Harlow's need for "contact comfort"
Incentive Motivation
motivation that is derived from some property of the reinforcer, as opposed to an internal drive state
Dopamine
movement, thought processes and rewarding sensations (parkinson's, schizophrenia, addiction)
multiple sclerosis
myelin sheath destruction. disruptions in nerve impulse conduction
Mescaline
naturally occurring drug derived from the peyote cactus. (Psychedelic)
burnout
negative changes in thoughts, emotions, and behavior When work stress is prolonged and becomes chronic, it can produce a stress response. There are three key components of burnout: people feel exhausted; they experience feelings of cynicism; and they feel a sense of failure or inadequacy
feature detectors
nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement
repolarizes
neuron reestablishes negative-inside/positive-outside condition
sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Motor neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
secondary sex characteristics
nonreproductive sexual characteristics, such as female breasts and hips, male voice quality, and body hair
cortical localization
notion that different functions are located in different areas of the brain
hyperopia
objects near the eyes appear blurry because light reflected off the objects is focused behind the retina
Neurocognitive Model of Dreaming-
occur because we are cut off from external sensory stimuli during sleep, so we generate our own sensory data. We are unable to control our thoughts, so dreams mirror our waking concerns. Dreaming emphasizes the continuity of waking and dreaming cognition it reflects our interests, personality, and worries
Stimulus Discrimination
occurs when a particular conditioned response is made to one specific stimuli but not to other, similar stimuli
Reinforcement
occurs when a stimulus or an event follows an operant and increases the likelihood of the operant being repeated; it encourages the behavior to continue/happen again in the future
Negative Energy Balance
occurs when caloric intake falls short of the calories expended for energy. Body fat stores shrink as the reserve energy in fat cells is used
Positive Energy Balance
occurs when calorie intake exceeds calories expended for energy. The excess glucose is converted to body fat.
belief-bias effect
occurs when people accept only the evidence that conforms to their beliefs, rejecting or ignoring any evidence that does not.
Stimulus Generalization
occurs when stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus elicit the conditioned response, even though they have never been paired with the unconditioned stimulus
Self-Control
often involves choosing between two reinforces: 1) a long-term reinforcer that will provide gratification at some point in the future, or 2) a short-term reinforcer that provides immediate gratification bit gets in the way of obtaining a long-term reinforcer.
Abraham Maslow
one of two important contributors to humanism; developed the hierarchy of needs and the concept of self-actualization.
opiates
opiates are a group of drugs that relieve pain and produce- heroin, opium
Punishment by removal
or negative punishment involves a response being followed by the loss or withdrawal of a reinforcing stimulus. The behavior is weakened and the organism is less likely to repeat the operant in similar situations in the future.
Clustering
organizing items into related groups during recall from long-term memory
J. Hobson and R. McCarley-Activation-Synthesis Model of Dreaming
our brain's activity produces the random images that we see in our dreams; it is triggering memories, images, emotions, sensations we've experienced. This theory says that our dreams are NOT meaningless; the meaning is found by analyzing the way the dreamer makes sense out of the chaotic dream images.
endorphins
pain perception, positive emotions (opioid addiction)
Nociceptors
pain receptors
Free Association:
patients spontaneously report their uncensored thoughts, mental images, and feelings as they come to mind; a way to reveal unconscious conflicts and traumatic events.
Bandura suggests that four cognitive processes interact to determine whether imitation will occur
paying attention to the other person's behavior forming and storing mental representations of behavior to be imitated transforming this mental representation into actions you are capable of reproducing being motivated to imitate the behavior by some expectation that doing so will produce reinforcement or reward
instinct theories
people are motivated to engage in certain behaviors because of evolutionary programming
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
people are motivated to meet needs in order from the most basic physical needs to self-actualization. One will not be motivated to meet a need until the need below it is fulfilled; order of needs: 1) physiological, 2) safety, 3) belongingness and love, 4) self-esteem, and 5) self-actualization
perceptual constancy
perceiving objects as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images change
extrasensory perception (ESP)
perception of events outside the known channels of sensation
Obstructive Sleep Apnea-
person's airway becomes blocked causing shallow or stopped breathing; could happen up to 300 times a night; 2x more common in men than women; second most common sleep disorder
Projective tests
personality tests that involve a person interpreting an ambiguous image; they are used to assess unconscious motives, conflicts, psychological defenses, and personality traits.
norepinephrine
physical arousal, learning, memory, regulation of sleep (Depression, stress)
Psychologist Carol Gilligan
pointed out that Kohlberg's model is based on an ethic of individual rights and justice, which is a more common perspective for men. In contrast, women tend to have an ethic of care and responsibility
Punishment by application
positive punishment, involves a response being followed by the presentation of an aversive stimulus. The behavior is weakened and the organism is less likely to repeat the operant in similar situations in the future.
PET
positron emission tomography
LSD
powerful synthetic psychedelic drug. LSD and psilocybin are very similar chemically to the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is involved is regulating moods and sensations.
thalamus
processes and relays all sense but smell to cerebral cortex
PCP (angel dust) and ketamine (special K)
produce marked feelings of dissociation and depersonalization.
Dementia
progressive deterioration and impairment of memory, reasoning, and other cognitive functions occurring as the result of a disease or a condition
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
projective test requiring examinees to tell a story in response to ambiguous pictures
indirectly affected by stress
prompting behavior that jeopardizes physical well-being
Alan Baddeley
proposed the concept of a working memory that underlies human thought processes
Lawrence Kohlberg
proposed the most influential theory of moral development. He believed there were three levels of moral reasoning: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional; each level has two stages
Astrocytes (type of glial cell)
provide connection between neurons and blood cells
Projection
psychoanalytic defense mechanism by which people disguise their own threatening impulses by attributing them to others
Regression
psychoanalytic defense mechanism in which an individual faced with anxiety retreats to a more infantile psychosexual stage, where some psychic energy remains fixated
Displacement
psychoanalytic defense mechanism that shifts sexual or aggressive impulses toward a more acceptable or less threatening object or person, as when redirecting anger toward a safer outlet
emotion
psychological state involving 3 distinct components 1) subjective experience 2) physiological response 3) behavioral/expressive component
George Sperling
psychologist who first studied iconic memory and discovered the duration of iconic memory is around half a second
a-delta fibers
quick, sharp pain
parietal lobe
receives sensory input for touch and body position
hair cells
receptor cells for hearing found in the cochlea
phenotype
refers to the characteristics that are actually observed
Genotype
refers to the genetic makeup of an individual organism
Cognition
refers to the mental activities involved in acquiring, retaining, and using knowledge
Social support
refers to the resources provided by other people in times of need. It may benefit our health and improve our ability to cope with stressors in several ways
Coping
refers to the ways in which we try to change circumstances, or interpretations
elaborative rehearsal
rehearsal that involves focusing on the meaning of information to help encode and transfer it to long-term memory
Variable-Ratio: VR;
reinforcement given after a changing (unpredictable) number of responses (behaviors) has occurred; averaged; hardly any pausing between trials
Fixed-Ratio: FR;
reinforcement given after a preset number of responses (behaviors) has occurred; burst pause-burst pattern
Variable-Interval: VI;
reinforcement given for the first response occurring after a changing amount of time has passed; averaged
Fixed-Interval: FI;
reinforcement given for the first response occurring after a preset amount of time interval has passed
pitch
relative highness or lowness of a sound
trait
relatively stable, enduring predisposition to behave in a certain way.
prospective memory
remembering to do things in the future
Lewis Terman
revised Binet's I.Q. tests and established norms for American children
extrinsic
rewards, evaluations, rules, and responsibilities
syntax
rules for combining words
S. Freud
saw personality and behavior as resulting from a constant interaction between conflicting psychological forces that operate at three different levels of awareness.
Empirical evidence
scientific evidence obtained by careful observation and experimentation
Roger Sperry
scientist who won a Nobel Prize for work with split brain patients
insulin
secreted by the pancreas and helps control blood levels of glucose; it also helps regulate eating behaviors and maintain stable body weight
vestibular sense
sense of balance
olfaction
sense of smell
gustation
sense of taste
kinesthetic sense
sense of the location of body parts in relation to the ground and each other
retinal detachment
separation of the retina from the underlying epithelium, disrupting vision and resulting in blindness if not repaired surgically
Baseline Body Weight
set-point theory is similar; your typical body weight; the constant weight for individual
Authoritative parenting style
sets clear standards for their child's behavior but are warm, responsive,and involved with their child. Child tends to be cheerful, socially competent, energetic, and friendly. The child shows high levels of self-esteem, self-reliance, and self-control. Use induction to teach and discipline
gonads
sex glands
libido
sexual energy or motivation
spinal reflexes
simple, automatic behaviors that are processed in the spinal cord
Memory Consolidation:
sleep is needed to strengthen our memories
Stage 3 and 4 NREM-
slow-wave sleep (SWS); defined by the amount of delta waves present-once there is more than 50 % delta , you have moved from Stage 3 into Stage 4;
Stage 1 NREM-
slower theta waves replace your drowsy alpha waves; this stage lasts onyo a few minutes and the personloses track of time; hypnagogic hallucinations can occur here, too!
achievement
something done successfully; something gained by working or trying hard
-posthypnotic suggestion
something that the person is told during hypnosis that they will carry out after hypnosis is over; can last months, day, or even just minutes.
neural stem cells
specialized cells that generate neurons in the developing brain
stressors
specific events or chronic pressures that place demands on a person or threaten the person's well-being
NREM:
stands for non-rapid-eye movement, is a quiet sleep where the body and brain are slowing down and it is divided into 4 separate stages
REM:
stands for rapid-eye movement, is an active sleep also called paradoxical sleep, the body and brain are at a heightened state and dreaming constantly occurs
Prenatal Brain Development
starts 3 weeks after conception with formation of a neural tube , lined with stem cells, which can divide infinitely, renew themselves, and give rise to other types of cells. The neural tube develops into 3 bulges to become 3 major regions of the brain
Social-cognitive view of hypnosis
states that subjects are merely responding to the social demands of the hypnosis situation-they want to be "good subjects."
Claude Steele
stereotype threat occurs when members of a particular group fear that they will be evaluated in terms of a negative stereotype about their group
Adler believed
striving for superiority was the most fundamental human motive. Striving arises from universal feelings of inferiority. These feelings motivate people to compensate for their real or imagined weaknesses.
Brenda Milner and Suzanne Corkin
studied HM for 50 years, learning much about anterograde amnesia and memory
Behavioral genetics studies
studies the effects of genes and heredity on behavior.
Ernest R. Hilgard
subjects are to be Ernest R. Hilgard believed that the hypnotized person experience a form of dissociation activity. While one stream is a "hidden observer" and has splitting of 2 or more simultaneous streams of mental responding to the hypnotist's suggestions, the other dissociated stream is operating as suspended judgement on the behavior and actions taking place. He called this the neodissociation theory of hypnosis.
Children of permissive styles
tend to be immature, impulsive, and aggressive, and they may never learn self-control. They fail to understand that actions have consequences
Mental Sets
tendency to persist in solving problems with solutions that have worked in the past (being stuck in a rut); approach things the same way over and over and over
serial position effect
tendency to recall best the last and first items in a list
primary effect
tendency to recall the first terms of list
recency effect
tendency to remember words at the end of a list especially well
Functional Fixedness
tendency to view objects as functioning only in their usual or customary way
emergenic
that is, they result unique configurations of many interacting genes.
Combined, the findings of Lashley and Thompson indicate
that memories have the potential to be both localized and distributed; very simple memories may be localized in a specific area, whereas more complex memories seem to be distributed throughout the brain.
displacement
the ability to communicate meaningfully about ideas, objects, and activities that are not physically present
visual acuity
the ability to see fine detail
short-term memory
the active stage of memory in which information is stored up to about 20 seconds
bottom-up processing
the analysis of the smaller features to build up to a complete perception
object permanence
the awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived
grasping reflex
the baby will grip your fingers so tightly that he or she can be lifted upright
biopsychosocial model
the belief that physical health and illness are determined by the complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors
Restorative theory of sleep
the belief that sleep and dreaming are needed for normal physical and mental functioning. It maintains our immune system functioning, enhances learning, consolidates memories, improves brain functioning, and helps regulate our moods and emotions.
Evolutionary Adaptation/Adaptive Theory of Sleep-
the belief that unique sleep patterns of different animals evolved over time to help promote survival and environmental adaptation (also called evolutionary theory of sleep)
motivation
the biological, emotional, cognitive, or social forces that activate and direct behavior
primary sex characteristics
the body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that make sexual reproduction possible
endocrine system
the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
functional plasticity
the brain's ability to shift functions from damaged to undamaged brain areas
Attention:
the capacity to selectively focus senses and awareness on particular stimuli or aspects of the environment.
Menopause
the cessation of menstruation that signals the end of reproductive capacity in women, may occur anywhere from the late 30s to the early 50s
iris
the colored part of the eye, which is the muscle that controls the size of the pupil
higher-order conditioning.
the conditioned stimulus could itself function as an unconditioned stimulus in a conditioning trial; the new conditioned stimulus has never been paired with the unconditioned stimulus
Ebbinghaus forgetting curve
the course of forgetting is initially rapid, then levels off with time
Thanatos:
the death instinct, refers specifically to the destructive energy that is reflected in aggressive, reckless, and life-threatening behaviors
sensory adaptation
the decline in sensitivity to a constant stimulus
Phrenology
the detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities.
subliminal perception
the detection of stimuli that are below the threshold of conscious awareness; nonconscious perception
Wavelength
the distance from one wave peak to another
timbre
the distinctive quality of a sound, determined by the complexity of the sound wave
Sypathetic Nervous System
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
somatic nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles
Manifest content
the dream image
Conditional positive regard
the expression of love or esteem given only when an individual exhibits suitable behavior
Validity
the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to
Fetal Period
the fetal period is the final and longest of the prenatal development stages
mere exposure effect
the finding that repeated exposure to a stimulus increases a person's preference for that stimulus
olfactory bulb
the first brain structure to pick up smell information from the nose
preconventional level
the first level in Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning, focusing on avoiding punishment or maximizing rewards
Hermann Ebbinghaus
the first person to study memory scientifically and systematically; used nonsense syllables and recorded how many times he had to study a list to remember it well
neurogeneisis
the formation of new neurons
memory consolidation
the gradual, physical process of converting new long-term memories to stable, enduring memory codes
Latent content
the hidden, unconscious meaning
perception of a threat
the hypothalamus and lower brain structures activate the sympathetic nervous system, which stimulates the adrenal medulla to secrete hormone called catecholamines, including adrenaline and noradrenaline.
memory trace (engram)
the hypothetical brain changes associated with a particular stored memory
Psychological energy evolves to form the three basic structures of personality
the id, ego, and superego.
homeostasis
the idea that the body monitors and maintains internal states, such as body temperature and energy supplies at relatively constant levels
retrieval cue failure
the inability to recall long-term memories because of inadequate or missing retrieval cues
encoding failure
the inability to recall specific information because of insufficient encoding of the information for storage in long-term memory
inner ear
the inner part of the ear where sound is transduced into neural impulses and consists of the cochlea and semicircular canals
amplitude
the intensity or amount of energy of a wave reflected in the height of the wave, the amplitude of a sound wave determines a sound's loudness
cognitive appraisal
the interpretation of an event that helps determine its stress impact
ego
the largely conscious, "executive" part of personality that, according to Freud, mediates among the demands of the id, superego, and reality. The ego operates on the reality principle, satisfying the id's desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain.
Two conflicting instinctual drives fuel the id:
the life instinct and the death instinct.
nature-nurture issue
the long-standing controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors
oval window
the membrane at the entrance to the cochlea through which the ossicles transmit vibrations
memory
the mental processes that enable you to retain and retrieve information over time
autism
the most severe of these spectrum disorders, may exhibit severely impaired communication, highly repetitive behaviors, social unresponsiveness, and highly restricted routines
Prototypes
the most typical instance of a particular concept; the "best" example of a category.often when we encounter a new item in a category, we compare it to our existing exemplars to see if it matches that concept
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS):
the natural stimulus that reflexively produces a response without prior learning *when you hear the word "unconditioned" think "unlearned!"
laterization of function
the notion that specific psychological or cognitive functions are processed primarily on one side of the brain
Partial Schedules of Reinforcement:
the occurrence of a behavior/response is only sometimes followed by reinforcement; this encourages a more consistent change in behavior; behaviors are less prone to experience extinction
pupil
the opening in the middle of the iris that changes size to let in different amounts of light
Carl Rogers
the other important contributor to humanism; developed his theory from his clinical experiences with his "clients". Rogers, believed the most basic human motive is the "actualizing tendency."
superego
the part of personality that, according to Freud, represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment (the conscience) and for future aspirations
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the involuntary functions
phonological loop
the part of working memory that holds and processes verbal and auditory information
blind spot
the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot because no receptor cells are located there
optic chiasm
the point in the brain where the optic nerve fibers from each eye meet and partly cross over to the opposite side of the brain
synapse
the point of communication between 2 neurons
Transduction
the process by which a form of physical energy is converted into a coded neural signal that can be processed by the nervous system
Depolarizes
the process by which an axon becomes more positive
accommodation
the process by which the lens changes shape to focus incoming light so that it falls on the retina
perception
the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events
Retrieval
the process of recovering information stored in memory so that we are consciously aware of it
retrieval
the process of recovering information stored in memory so that we are consciously aware of it
storage
the process of retaining information in memory so that is can be used at a later time
encoding
the process of transforming information into a form that can be entered into and retained by the memory system
saturation
the property of color that corresponds to the purity of the light wave (highly saturated=vivid/rich) (less saturated is faded)
hue
the property of wavelengths of light known as color; different wavelengths correspond to our subjective experience of different colors
flashbulb memory
the recall of very specific images of details surrounding a vivid, rare of significant personal event. Details may or may not be accurate
receptive field
the region of the sensory surface that, when stimulated, causes a change in the firing rate of that neuron
all or none law
the rule that neurons are either on or off
Cognitive psychology
the scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
Psychology
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Positive psychology
the scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive
audition
the sense or act of hearing
Alpha Waves-
the slightly larger and slower waves associated with relaxed wakefulness; you are drowsy and relaxed and your thoughts start to wander
Beta Waves-
the small, fast brain waves when we are awake and alert
absolute threshold
the smallest possible strength of a stimulus that can be detected half the time
lymphocytes
the specialized white blood cells that fight bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders
sensory memory
the stage of memory that registers information from the environment and holds it for a very brief period of time
long-term memory
the stage of memory that represents the long-term storage of information
Developmental psychology
the study of how people change physically, mentally, and socially throughout the lifespan (Changes=basic stages)
evolutionary psychology
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
naturalistic observation
the systematic observation and recording of behaviors as they occur in their natural setting
Instinctive drift
the tendency of an animal to revert to its instinctive behaviors and it can then interfere with the performance of an operantly conditioned response.
Stroop Effect
the tendency to read the words instead of saying the color of ink
context effect
the tendency to recover information more easily when the retrieval occurs in the same setting as the original learning of the information
state-dependent learning
the tendency to remember information more easily when the physiological/biological conditions are similar to the physiological conditions when learning took place.
interference theory
the theory that forgetting is caused by one memory competing with or replacing another
opponent-process theory
the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red; others are stimulated by red and inhibited by green
Set-Point Theory
the theory that the body has a natural or optimal weight it tries to maintain; it will defend this weight from going higher or lower by balancing hunger and metabolism
NREM Rebound-
the time spent in NREM will increase when deprived of stages 3 and 4, when allowed to get a good night's sleep
REM Rebound-
the time spent in REM will increase (up to 50% more ) after having been deprived of it for several nights; will experience more vivid dreams
lens
the transparent structure located behind the pupil that actively focuses or bends light as it enters the eye
decibel
the unit of measurement for loudness
Unconditioned Response (UCR):
the unlearned, reflexive response that is elicited by an unconditioned stimulus; occurs without our control
VI;
the unpredictable aspect produces a steady rate of responding-especially when time averages are short
drive theories
the view that behavior is motivated by the desire to reduce internal tension caused by unmet biological needs
Settling-Point Models of Weight Regulation
the view that explains how we tend to "settle" around the point at which a balance is achieved between energy expenditure and food consumption; this may drift to a higher or lower body weight as these factors change
decay theory
the view that forgetting is due to normal metabolic processes that occur in the brain over time
production vocabulary
the words that an infant or child understands and can speak
comprehension vocabulary
the words that are understood by an infant or child
cerebral cortex
the wrinkled outer portion of the forebrain, which contains the most sophisticated brain centers
Charles Spearmans
theory had a factor he called general intelligence, or the g factor, this factor represented a person's overall performance on tests of mental ability
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
theory proposes that the terminally ill pass through a sequence of 5 stages- [1]denial, [2]anger/resentment, [3]bargaining, [4]depression, [5]acceptance
gate-control theory
theory that pain is a product of physiological and psychological factors that cause spinal gates to relay stimulation to the brain
Diana Baumrind explained various parenting styles
these demonstrated how different levels of (1) parental control and (2) parental responsiveness impact the child
five-factor model of personality
these five dimensions (extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience) represent the structural organization of personality traits.
Problem Solving
thinking and behavior that is directed toward attaining a goal that is not readily available
meninges
three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord
rooting reflex
touching its cheek triggers
sucking reflex
touching its lips triggers
postsynaptic neuron
transmits impulses away from the synapse
forebrain
uppermost and largest
Raymond Cattell
used a statistical technique called factor analysis to identify traits that were most closely related to one another, eventually reducing his list to 16 key personality factors. (Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire -16PF)
Rorschach Inkblot Test
uses the interpretation of inkblots and was developed by Swiss psychologist Hermann in 1921.
Aversive stimuli
usually involve physical or psychological discomfort that one seeks to escape or avoid
occipital lobe
vision
Nightmare-
vivid and frightening or unpleasant anxiety dream that occurs during REM sleep; common in childhood, but adults have also; can be triggered by daytime stresses; often wakes the sleeper
intelligence quotient (IQ)
was derived by dividing the individual's mental age by their chronological age and multiplying the result by 100.
Edward L. Thorndike
was the 1st psychologist to study animal behavior and how voluntary behaviors are influenced by their consequences.
Henry Gustav Molaison, infamously known as H.M.
was unable to form new declarative memories. He suffered from what psychologists call anterograde amnesia
Ego Defense Mechanisms:
we use these (mostly unconsciously) when the demands of the id or superego threaten to overwhelm the ego and anxiety results.
depressants
weaken or inhibit central nervous system activity.
The Embryotic Period
weeks 3 -8; during this time of rapid growth and intensive cell differentiation, the organs and major systems of the body form
Physical Safety
when an adult or child does not feel safe, he/she is motivated to act in ways to assure a sense of safety. (Ex: if your house has been broken into, you probably put more locks on the doors/get security system.)
Continuous Reinforcement:
when every occurrence of a behavior/response is followed by reinforcement
Psilocybin
which is derived from the Psilocybe mushroom and is called "magic mushroom.
heritability
which is the percentage of variation within a given population that is due to heredity
self-concept
which is the set of perceptions and beliefs that you have about yourself.
symbols
which may be sounds, written words, or formalized gestures.
Sclera
white of the eye
Walter Cannon
who found that the fight-or-flight response involves both the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system.
The Germinal Period
zygotic period; represents the first two weeks of prenatal development; by the end of the two weeks, the single-celled zygote has developed into a cluster of cells called the embryo